Secure latch

ABSTRACT

A secure latch having a lid that includes a panel and a plurality of walls extending from the edges of the panel forming a skirt, the skirt having a cut out portion. A latch handle is pivotably mounted to an underside of the lid proximate the cut out portion. The latch handle is partially shielded from accidental contact by the skirt.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure generally relates to a latch for a storage container and,more specifically, relates to a latch which is resistant to accidentaldislodgement.

2. Related Technology

Storage containers often include a lid that is attached to the storagecontainer via a hinge along one side. This traditional arrangementallows the lid to be opened exposing a storage space of the container.Often, latches or other securing devices are placed on the lid to securethe lid to the storage device when the lid is closed. By their nature,these securing devices are attached to the outside of the lid andstorage container so that a user may manipulate the securing device asrequired. These securing devices are exposed to the environment and,because they are attached to the outside of the lid and storagecontainer, may be easily bumped or jarred loose.

Attempts have been made to design a securing device that is notsusceptible to being inadvertently dislodged. Often, these securingdevices require extensive manipulation by a user, in the form ofmultiple movements, in order to unlock. For example, a traditional latchmay include a lever and a loop of wire attached to the lever disposed onthe storage container. Additionally, a pedestal may be disposed on thelid for engagement with the wire loop. After the wire loop is engagedwith the pedestal, the lever is used to provide tension on the loop andeventually locks the loop in an over-center locking arrangement. Thus,this type of latch is complicated and relatively expensive tomanufacture. Additionally, because this type of latch projects from thesurface of the storage container it is easily damaged and is usually thefirst point of impact when the storage container is being moved.

Other types of improved securing devices include living hinges andlocking pins. The living hinge-type securing devices are also generallydisposed on the outer surfaces of the storage container, and are thusoften damaged by impacts. Locking pin-type securing devices are alsodisposed on the outside surfaces of the storage container and can bedamaged by impacts. Further, the locking pins are separate pieces thatmust be precisely aligned to secure the lid to the storage container,and because they are not attached to the storage container, such lockingpins are easily lost.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A secure latch is disclosed, including a lid having a panel and aplurality of walls extending from the edges of the panel forming askirt, the skirt having a cut out portion. A latch handle is pivotablymounted to an underside of the lid proximate the cut out portion. Thelatch handle is at least partially shielded from accidental contact bythe skirt. The latch handle is accessible through the cut out portionand the skirt partially surrounds the latch handle, the latch handlebeing recessed from a plane of the skirt.

Further details of the file holder of the present disclosure may beappreciated with reference to the several views of the drawings, as wellas the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container and a lid.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the storage container and thelid of FIG. 1, including a secure latch.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the lid and latch of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storage container and lid of FIG. 2with the lid in a closed and secured position.

FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the storage container and lid of FIG. 2 ina closed and secured position.

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the storage container and lid of FIG. 2 ina closed, but unsecured position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The lid and latch described herein minimize accidental dislodgement whenthe lid is in a closed and secured position on a storage container.Pivot points of the latch are attached to an inner surface of the lid,thus protecting the pivot points from unwanted impacts which maydisengage the latch, causing the lid to open. Furthermore, the latch isrecessed from a plane of a skirt projecting from the lid, thusprotecting the latch from side impacts as well. This feature isespecially useful for storage containers that are frequently transportedand/or often exposed to impacts, for example storage containers forhunting or fishing supplies, home organization, tools and art supplies,among others.

FIG. 1 illustrates a storage container 10 and a lid 12 constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the disclosure. The container 10 isbox-like in shape having a base panel 14, and a pair of opposed sidewalls 16 that extend from side edges of the base panel 14. Further, arear wall 18 extends from a rear edge of the base panel 12 and a frontwall 20 extends from a front edge of the base panel 12. The front wall20, rear wall 18, side walls 16 and base panel 14 define a storage space22.

The storage container 10 may include a lip 24 that extends outward fromthe exposed edges of the front, back and side walls 20, 18, 16. The lip24 provides a contact surface for the lid 12 along an upper edge 26 ofthe lip 24. The lip 24 further serves to strengthen the exposed edges ofthe front, back and side walls 20, 18, 16. Additionally, a lower edge 28of the lip 24 provides a latch grasping surface, which will be discussedfurther hereinafter. The front wall 20 may include an optional recessedportion 30. Similarly, the rear wall 18 may include an optional recessedportion 32.

Additionally, the front and rear walls 20, 18 may optionally divergeslightly away from one another as the front and rear walls 20, 18 extendfrom the base panel 14. Likewise, the side walls 16 may optionallydiverge slightly away from one another as the side walls 16 extend fromthe base panel 14. The divergence between the front and rear walls 20,18, and the divergence between the side walls 16, may provide a nestingcapability for the storage containers 10. Nesting storage containers 10may be particularly useful in shipping, stocking, and display of thestorage containers 10.

The lid 12 includes a lid panel 34 optionally having one or moreopenings therein. A skirt 36 extends from a perimeter of the lid panel34. The skirt 36 may include a first tier 38 and a second tier 40separated by a buttress 42. The buttress 42 abuts the upper lip edge 26of the storage container 10 when the lid 12 is mounted on the storagecontainer 10 and in a closed position. The first tier 38 includes anarch 44 along one side that is sized and shaped to partially receive alatch, which will be further discussed hereinafter. The lid 12 alsoincludes a handle 46 hingedly connected to the lid 12. The handle 46 inFIG. 1 is shown in a stored position in which the handle 46 registerswith a rear portion of the buttress 42.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the storage container 10,lid 12 and secure latch 48. The handle 46 generally includes threemembers. Two generally “C” shaped attachment members 50 and a tubularconnecting member 52. The tubular connecting member 52 may beconstructed of different lengths to create different sized handles 46for use with different sized lids 12. The “C” shaped attachment members50 may be common to many different sized lids 12, thus savingmanufacturing costs.

The lid 12 includes a tray 54 and an aperture 56. The tray 54 andaperture 56 are secured by a dual action two panel cover 58. The cover58 includes first and second panels 60, 62 that are hingedly connectedto a center support 64 of the lid 12. The first and second panels 60, 62may be moved independently of one another. The first panel 62 covers theaperture 56, and the second panel 62 covers the tray 54. Furthermore,both the first and second panels 60, 62 may be opened while the lid 12is in a closed and secured position, thus allowing a user to access thestorage space 22 of the tray 54 while the lid 12 and storage container10 are supported by the handle 46.

The latch 48 includes a handle portion 66 and an attachment portion 68.The attachment portion includes two posts 70 extending laterallytherefrom for attaching the latch 48 to the underside of the lid 12. Thehandle portion 66 may terminate in a generally curved edge 72. Thecurved edge 72 engages the lower lip edge 28 when the lid 12 is in theclosed and secured position. Further, the latch 48 pivots outward, awayfrom the lower lip edge 28 when the latch 28 is released, so that thelid 12 can be opened.

FIG. 3 shows an underside of the lid 12. The latch 48 is hingedlyattached to the underside of the lid 12 at two receivers 74. Theunderside connection of the latch 48 to the lid 12 protects theconnection from environmental factors, such as impacts, that could jaror otherwise dislodge the latch 48 as in conventional securing devices.The latch 48 is attached to the lid 12 in the vicinity of the arch 44.Thus, the handle portion 66 of the latch 48 is accessible through thearch 44, while the first tier 38 of the skirt 36 overlaps the attachmentportion 68 of the latch 48. This configuration further protects thelatch 48 from accidental dislodgement or damage due to impacts whilestill allowing a user access to the handle portion 66 of the latch 48for manipulating the latch 48 between a secured position and anunsecured position.

FIG. 4 illustrates the lid 12 and latch 48 in a closed and securedposition on the storage container 10. The attachment portion 68 of thelatch 48 is shown in phantom. The attachment portion 68 of the latch 48is shielded by the first tier 38 of the skirt 36 in the vicinity of thearch 44. Thus, the receivers 74 and the posts 70 are protected by theskirt 36. The handle portion 66 of the latch is accessible through thearch 44, thereby reducing the probability that the latch 48 will bedislodged through accidental contact. Additionally, the front recess 30of the bin 10 provides additional clearance for manipulating the latch48. The front recess 30 is optional, and the latch 48 could beconfigured to secure a bin 10 that lacks the front recess 30.

FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the lid 12 and latch 48 in a closed andsecured position on the storage container 10. The attachment portion 68and posts 70 of the latch 48 are shown in phantom. The skirt 36 extendsoutward, beyond the handle portion 66 of the latch, to protect the latch48 from side impacts. This side shielding further reduces theprobability that the latch 48 will be accidentally dislodged.Furthermore, the curved edge 72 of the latch 48 engages a lower edge 28of the lip 24, thereby securing the lid 12 in the closed position.

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the lid 12 and latch 48 in a closed andunsecured position on the storage container 10. Again, the attachmentportion 68 and the posts 70 are shown in phantom. In this figure, thelatch 48 is shown released and the lid 12 is in a closed, but unsecuredposition. The curved edge 72 of the latch is disengaged from the lowerbin lip 76 allowing the lid 12 to be capable of being rotated about theopposing hinge to an open position. The latch 48 may be pivoted aboutthe receivers 74 and posts 70 so that the handle portion 66 protrudesoutward, beyond the skirt 36.

While the disclosed embodiments are generally manufactured from moldedplastic, the storage container can alternately be constructed fromvirtually any suitable material. For example, the storage container maybe constructed from polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate,engineering grade plastic, ABS, TPE, thermoplastics, metal, wood,organic materials, leather, glass, and/or any combination thereof.

Although certain securable storage containers have been described hereinin accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope ofthe appended claims is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the claimscover all embodiments of the teachings of this disclosure that fairlyfall within the scope of permissible equivalents.

1. A secure latch comprising: a lid having a panel and a plurality ofwalls extending from the edges of the panel forming a skirt, the skirthaving a cut out portion; a latch handle pivotably mounted to anunderside of the lid proximate the cut out portion; wherein the latchhandle is accessible through the cut out portion and wherein the skirtat least partially surrounds the latch handle, the latch handle beingrecessed from a plane of the skirt.
 2. The secure latch of claim 1,wherein the latch handle comprises an attachment portion and a graspingportion.
 3. The secure latch of claim 2, wherein the grasping portionterminates in a ledge.
 4. The secure latch of claim 2, wherein theattachment portion includes two posts extending laterally outwardtherefrom and lying in substantially the same plane with the attachmentportion.
 5. The secure latch of claim 4, wherein the posts are mountedin receivers formed in the underside of the lid.
 6. The secure latch ofclaim 1, wherein the latch engages a shelf disposed on a storage binwhen the lid is in a closed position.
 7. The secure latch of claim 1,wherein the latch handle is protected on at least three sides by theskirt.
 8. The secure latch of claim 1, wherein the skirt extendsoutwardly, beyond the handle portion of the latch, when the latch is ina closed and secured position.
 9. The secure latch of claim 1, whereinthe attachment portion is shielded by the skirt.
 10. A secure storagebin comprising: a lid having a panel and a plurality of walls extendingfrom the edges of the panel forming a skirt, the skirt having a cut outportion; a latch handle pivotably mounted to an underside of the lidproximate the cut out portion; and a bin having a base panel, aplurality of walls extending from the edges of the base panel, and a lipextending from the distal edges of the four walls, wherein the latchhandle is accessible through the cut out portion and wherein the skirtat least partially surrounds the latch handle, the latch handle beingrecessed from a plane of the skirt, and wherein one of the walls of thebin includes a recessed portion generally aligned with the cut outportion of the lid when the lid is in a closed position.
 11. The securelatch of claim 10, wherein the latch engages a shelf disposed on thestorage bin when the lid is in a closed position.
 12. The secure latchof claim 10, wherein the latch handle is protected on at least threesides by the skirt.
 13. The secure latch of claim 10, wherein the skirtextends outwardly, beyond the handle portion of the latch, when thelatch is in a closed and secured position.
 14. The secure latch of claim10, wherein the attachment portion is shielded by the skirt.